The Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia this morning in a press conference, officially announced the acceptance and entry of a PNG Rugby League team as the 18th team in the NRL competition by 2028. PM James Marape thanked the Australian National Rugby League (NRL) body for the acceptance and the support of the Australian Government, saying this marks a significant event in the history of PNG and Australia relations. Australia PM Anthony Albanese said this entry of a PNG team into the NRL further strengthens the relationship between PNG and Australia, in addition to strong relations in trade, economic and security. “What this is about isn’t just the elite level. This is about the grassroot level, its about economic development, its about the relationship between our peoples and it provides, as sport often does, an opportunity for people to succeed not just in sport, but in life,” said PM Albanese. He further said this partnership isn’t just about PNG, it’s also about Australia's relationship with the pacific. “The partnership will support young people in the pacific, girls and boys, women and men, to play rugby league with a focus on PNG, but also on Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. It will complement our existing health and education programs in the pacific and create new opportunities for women and girls to get involved too.” “This rugby league partnership and my government support for a PNG team in the NRL, shows we’re serious in working with our pacific family members on the aspirations that we have.” PM Marape echoed Albanese, saying that people to people is another important aspect of the relationship between PNG and Australia whereby rugby league has the potential to amplify going forward. “Today the decision made is a monumental decision that will stand into time as pivotal in the construct of anchoring PNG- Australia relationship and the pacific relationship," said PM Marape. “In the heart of every foreign relation lies people- to- people relations. When we engage people- to- people, it secures the future of our space, our region and our nations,” said Marape. Meantime, PNG Rugby Football League Chief Executive, Stanley Hondina, paid tribute to the incredible amount of work that had gone on behind the scenes to lead to this point. “I would like to firstly thank Prime Minister’s Anthony Albanese and James Marape for working so hard to bring this dream to reality.” “This NRL team to PNG is more than just a football team, it is a powerful tool to not only strengthen the PNG- Australia partnership and history, but also provides other immense opportunities to building our country and its people holistically,” said Mr. Hondina. The new PNG team will also include a women’s team that will progress into the NRLW following 2028. The PNG rugby league Team will go through a process and the men’s game will be introduced in 2028 and then the women’s game, where it will progress through the state leagues then finally into the NRL. The objective is to also include a PNG women’s team in the NRLW. The PNG team will be base in Port Moresby city with NRL matches to be played in PNG as well.